Every iPhone now has a useful hardware feature that zero Samsung phones offer
Source: 9to5Mac
MagSafe arrives on all iPhones
Apple’s latest release, the iPhone 17e, doubles the storage of its predecessor and finally adds MagSafe to the $599 iPhone 16e replacement. By bringing MagSafe to the budget model, Apple ensures that every iPhone now includes a useful hardware feature that no Samsung phone offers.
When the iPhone 16e launched a year ago, omitting MagSafe from the budget line didn’t make much sense—especially since the iPhone SE, which it replaced, never had MagSafe. Now, for the first time since the iPhone 12 introduced MagSafe in October 2020, every new iPhone sold by Apple works with MagSafe straight out of the box, without requiring a case.
A strong magnetic connection on the back of the iPhone enables accessories such as:
It also greatly improves wireless charging by aligning the charging coil automatically: learn more.
Samsung’s approach to magnetic accessories
In contrast, Samsung continues to omit magnets from even its most premium Galaxy smartphones. Reviewers have criticized the decision, noting that most users already employ cases.
Last month, The Verge asked Samsung executive Won‑Joon Choi—who oversees R&D and operations for Samsung’s mobile business—about the lack of a MagSafe‑like feature in 2026:
“About 80 or 90 percent of people are using a case, and cases with magnets are very popular these days,” Choi said. “Samsung would rather use that extra height to give the phone a larger battery or make it thinner.”
He added that Samsung is still researching ways to integrate magnets without sacrificing internal components, promising future integration once the engineering challenges are solved.
Apple, meanwhile, managed to embed MagSafe inside the impossibly thin iPhone Air (link), delivering usable battery life despite the added hardware.
Samsung’s current strategy leaves magnetic accessory standards to case makers, resulting in a mixed experience for users. When the phone itself defines the magnetic standard, accessory compatibility becomes far more reliable.
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